Costco (COST) is opening a $440 million chicken farm

In fall 2019, Costco will open a chicken farming operation in eastern Nebraska. This venture will provide Costco with 100 million chickens, or 40 percent of its yearly chicken needs, allowing it to partially escape the American chicken monopoly run by the likes of Tyson, Pilgrim’s Pride and Perdue.

Costco Wholesale Corp. shares were trading at $232.26 per share on Thursday afternoon, up $5.91 (+2.61%). Year-to-date, COST has gained 26.10%, versus a 0.94% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.